Secretary's
Report 2003
Nursery nurse strike and social work crisis dominated 2003
Last year was dominated by two high media profile issues - the
nursery nurses' ongoing action and the crisis in Social Work.
However there were also major issues in other departments which
are covered in detail in the Service Conditions Report.
Nursery Nurses
For most of the year, nursery nurses took a series of strike
actions in pursuit of a decent pay offer. Firstly the employers
said it had to be local claims, then they rejected those claims.
CoSLA came up with a national report, then refused to negotiate
and said it had to be local settlements - based on the rejected
national report! In Edinburgh, that report would mean a cut in
the hourly wage of most nursery nurses.
In short, the employers have done nothing while just about everyone
else in Scottish society is completely convinced of the nursery
nurses' case.
I have never seen a more committed group of members. The vast
majority turns out to every meeting and they are solid in their
action. It was typically generous of them in their crisis to send
support to social workers at the time of the O'Brien Inquiry.
Imagination has been the keyword in planning events for the strike
days. A 12,000-name petition, a 2,000 strong national rally in
Edinburgh, lobbies of Parliament and CoSLA and 'fun buses' were
just a few.
This organisation takes a lot of work and, along with the nursery
nurses themselves, branch officers and branch staff deserve particular
praise, not least for their work in the huge job of administering
strike pay.
Social Work
The second major issue has been the fall-out from the O'Brien
Inquiry in Social Work, the resignation of the Director, the internal
staffing inquiry and the plans to reorganise Social Work to such
a level that could see the end of the department itself.
UNISON officers and stewards have put more work into this issue
than any other I can recall in recent years. In line with a 2001
AGM resolution, we have tried to campaign on five fronts.
- Research and response - to professional issues as well as
conditions.
- Direct support for members.
- Putting our members' case to politicians and to the public
- Working with other organisations sharing our objectives
- More traditional trade union action - lobbies, direct negotiation
and preparation for industrial action if needed.
So far, this has involved:-
- a widely appreciated initial response to the Council on 16
October last year calling for 'calm reflection' and warning
against seeking scapegoats
- a system of representation for members including training
for stewards,
- extensive reports and consultations with full time and legal
officers,
- an 'emergency response' plan for urgent measures UNISON believes
the Council must take to maintain services and support members,
- talks on widening the remuneration package,
- a lobby exposing the resource crisis and 500 unallocated cases
- research into the poor experience in England of the kind of
reorganisation planned by the Council,
- an interim response questionning the Inquiry process and the
evidence for some of its conclusions
- the plan for a conference to create a wide 'critical debate'
on the Inquiry,
- building on our previous success in helping to achieve initiatives
at Scottish level, not least the CoSLA initiatives of Cllr Thomas.
The Inquiry is a very sensitive and emotive issue and UNISON
has to balance the tragedy of a child robbed of life and future,
with a cool examination of the facts and issues.
Everyone must do all they can to minimise the risk of tragedies
like this. But that will not happen by trying to single out individuals
for unwarranted blame or by merely reorganising a department.
It needs 'calm reflection', less populist responses and a recognition
of the key problem of resources.
Most of all - as achieved by UNISON in its response to the Edinburgh
Inquiry and the Social Work grievance - it needs a clear recognition
that social workers work with risk. Even if an assessed risk means
a child is 90% safe, there will still be a 10% risk they will
not be. Not all deaths will be predictable or realistically avoidable.
Staff need support in those difficult circumstances.
Progress from last AGM
Accommodation and Downsizing: Negotiations ongoing.
Salary Protection: Still campaigning for the national
job evaluation scheme and resisting dilution of current conditions.
Pay: National committee in talks with other unions on
claim and statement made that we want fair share of the funding
for councils.
PPP Transfer of Staff: Protocol won and talks at national
level to extend it.
Professional Registration Fees: No progress at local level and
also being resisted by national employers.
Pensions: Essence of the motion passed at National Conference.
Review of Political Funds: Amendment based on a composite
of the AGM motion was carried at National Conference - this means
keeping the Affiliated and General Funds but with more accountability.
Further ballot to follow in 2005.
Disaffiliation from Edinburgh Trades Union Council: Funds
allocated for Lothian Trade Union Resource Centre. Situation kept
under review.
Branch Organisation: Working Party has met and recruitment
initiatives set up in partnership with full time officers.
Affiliation to UK Breast Cancer Coalition (UKBCC): Completed.
Honorary Life Membership of UNISON for Aung San Suu Kyi:
Special statement achieved at Conference. Council and others lobbied.
War in Iraq: Branch participated in all main demonstrations.
National Conference
As well as co-operating on a range of motions, including the
Social Work Crisis and Pensions, we took an active role in other
debates as reported in August's branch magazine:-
Political Fund Review. Our amendment called for more accountability
in a 'member-led' political fund.
University Funding and Top-Up Fees included our amendment..
Protection of Children Legislation - We highlighted the Scottish
legislation and the need for organisations as well as individuals
to be held to account.
Fair Trade included our amendment to oblige caterers to provide
fair trade goods when engaged by UNISON.
Scottish Dimension
The branch continues to play a full role at Scottish level. I
chair the Communications & Campaigns Committee and edit the
Scottish bulletin and website. Lyn Williams is on the Social Work
Issues group and we have strong representation on the Black Members
and Disabled Members groups. Wattie Weir is on the Scottish Local
Government Committee, Tom McLeod on Health & Safety and Matthew
Crighton on International.
Branch Office
The introduction of broadband Internet connection to the office
has made a significant difference, especially since so much research
material is available on the web.
However, the integration between the national membership system
and Internet access is delayed and leaves us unable to access
both at once. This is inconvenient for staff but a separate system
has been set up for them and officers.
The Branch Office staff, Support Officer Monica Niven and Support
Assistants Nicola Lee, Julieanne Finlay and Eileen Thomson have
had a busy year with the number of immediate bulletins we have
needed and the administering of the nursery nurses dispute. The
amount of things wanted 'yesterday' has been huge. Our thanks
go to them all for their work this year.
The quest for new more accessible premises continues. We have
looked at several options without success but the search will
continue.
People
Pressures on individuals have been exceptional this year, especially
after losing so many experienced officers last year. The Service
Conditions Team has had to face a very difficult year and they
all deserve the respect and the thanks of the branch for working
over and above what should really be expected.
I would wish to single out John Ross for his exceptional commitment
and assisting in so many secretary duties. Teamwork is of the
essence and it is important to have such support and such constructive
criticism (even though I do not always appreciate it).
Lyn Williams has faced a huge workload with the social work issues
throughout the year, often without fair recognition. We all appreciate
the huge commitment, sensitivity and tenacity that Lyn has shown.
Kevin Duguid is back in harness after illness and we hope things
will go much better for him this year.
Agnes Petkevicius and Barbara Foubister have faced the longest
industrial action I can recall in the branch with the nursery
nurses' dispute. This has come at a very difficult personal time
for both of them and the commitment they show to the union and
their members deserves the highest respect. Our best wishes in
particular go to Agnes and her family after their tragic 2003.
The branch has tried to show its support in several ways and recently
via a nursery nurse collection and branch donation for a memorial
to Agnes' niece.
It is important we recognise that the branch covers many employers
and the achievements of George Lee in securing a new deal and
structures for Edinburgh Leisure members deserves recognition.
Love them or hate them, branch officers mostly do the job out
of a sense of responsibility. They rarely get credit for that
and all too often they bear the brunt of members' anger when that
anger would be more appropriately directed at the employers.
Finally, thanks to stewards throughout the branch. We now have
less than half the stewards we had when the branch was formed,
yet workloads have increased hugely. As public servants we extol
the virtues of public service. That commitment to people is reflected
in stewards who take on the task of serving and representing their
fellow members.
We need to shake off the 'cloth cap and whistle' perception of
the union activist. Most stewards are not wildly political animals.
They are ordinary members like you, doing a job for you.
Their strength and our strength lies in a strong branch recruiting
more and more members. We are only as strong as our membership
and activists and that is why the branch's working group (chaired
by Matthew Crighton) is not only looking at recruitment but also
at how we can support and encourage stewards to make the job easier
and to encourage more people to assist.
The union will not get everything right. But I think there is
a host of evidence this year for members to feel proud of their
union - and to feel that they should get more involved to make
it even better in 2004.
John Stevenson
Branch Secretary
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